Locating a Septic Field

[Pokeberry Mary]

Is there any way to tell for sure where exactly your septic field is?

I have a map that puts ours in one spot but the person who pumped our tank says it is probably elsewhere.

I think I may be building my garden over and need to be sure.

[NCLee]

One way that "might" work. Get a metal rod 1/4"-1/2" x 3'-4' lomg (Lowes) and probe the ground. Undisturbed soil will be solid while disturbed soil over the drain field should be much softer. Use a hammer to gently tap the rod into the ground. Depending on your soil type, you may be able to tell the difference.

Lee

[Pokeberry Mary]

Well I have some rebar that might work.

Only thing is the one area has been tilled.. the other area was excavated some when the basement was dug--so dunno if I'll be able to tell--but its worth a try.

Thanks!:)

[Pokeberry Mary]

Well I found the original onsite sewage map-- and it turns out it has the leach field located where the septic guy says it must be. so the other map--was wrong.

So-- it looks like the only part of my garden I've inadvertently put over it is the strawberries.

Technically I suppose they could remain there being shallow rooted--but I was thinking of moving them anyhow because so much grass appeared in the berry patch it was driving me nuts. Now I guess I will have a 2nd reason to consider moving them. The rest of my beds appear to be ok-- and I can use an area I had thought was the leach field--which is actually more convenient. I do think I'll have to remove a large poke salet plant though--which is kind of a bummer and a little japanese maple needs to move too. oops. :wub:

[NCLee]

Great! Glad you found those plans.

Give that poke salet a good spray with Roundup. It has a big tap root and cutting it back simply lets is sprout again next year. Now's the best time to spray for it to be the most effective, if it hasn't already started losing it's leaves.

Now's also a good time to move your maple. Sounds like your timing in looking into this has been good.

Lee

[Pokeberry Mary]

Well I just got some timbers at Lowes that were marked down to $1 each so I was about to do some more terracing/raised bed making and put in more fall veggies. I wanted to make sure before I started of where exactly that field is. Now that I know I will have to limit the garden quite a bit--but I think it will be OK. Later, when the front of the house is finished off I think I'll have much more garden space there. In a year or so.

I'm sad about the poke though. As you can tell by my nickname I'm a fan. This one is a good 9 or 10 feet tall and I can see it from my desk in the house so I enjoy watching all the birds that come for the berries. You are so right though--it HAS to go and I do have just enough round up to do the job. Poor dear. :(

I don't think it is quite in the way of pipes--but I'm not keen on chancing it. :sad:

[NCLee]

Mary, you'll have plenty more. The birds will make sure of that for you. :)

I think it's a beautiful plant, too. That is until it gets in my way. Otherwise, I leave them alone.

Lee

[CountryGuy]

Mary any chance you can cut your poke back and try digging up most of the ball and moving it to your front lawn? Just start thinking about your lawn layout some and don't just pop it in somewhere.

[Pokeberry Mary]

I'm just going to kill it. I'll probably wait til spring though. Right now it has all the berries and the birds are flocking to it. I'm thinking I'll just enjoy it and then it will die back after frost and when it starts to come back in spring we'll kill it--or keep on mowing the area and it will die on its own. Its a weed, not an ornamental--you couldn't move it really as the tap root is deep and wouldn't be easy to move.

I am going to move my little maple that I planted though--but not til first frost I think.

its all good.. just a little re-doing is all. ;)

[CountryGuy]

What part of SC are u in? We lived near Columbia for about 5 yrs. I loved the winters but hated the rest of the year, to hot for me. Also I surely do not miss those nasty little fire ants or their bites. I do miss that pulled pork BBQ and the mustard base sauce...MMMMMM

[Pokeberry Mary]

We're in the Piedmont area-- sort of north and east of columbia.

I loathe fire ants myself. I no longer wear sandals or crocks outside--just beat up velcro tennies and socks. That cut my bites down to nearly zip.

Also I have fun finding new ways to torment them.

Leaf blowing them across a patio is very fun.
Dumping a canner full of boiling water on a hill-- truly my most diabolical enjoyment in life.

They are the one and only creature I allow myself to truly h.a.t.e.

It is hot-- a porch awning and a pool make it pleasant though--at least in the evenings and then you do the garden work early in the morning.

Very doable especially compared to winter in Fargo.:wink:

[NCLee]

Those pests moved in here last summer. (groan) When we get rid of one hill, 2 more appear somewhere in the yard. I'm hoping that if we have a severe winter this year, maybe that'll take care of some of them. Don't know their northern range limit, but I'd say Virginia should keep an eye out for those blasted mounds.

Lee

[Terri]

We do not have fire ants here, but I have HEARD that if you take a shovel full on one nest and dump it on the one closest to it, and then repeat the process, that they will make war on each other and that one of the nests will be killed.

Nothing was said about what to wear when you go digging at those mounds, however!

I located my leach field by going out when it had been dry and looking for it. In a wet year I cannot see it at all, though!

[Pokeberry Mary]

It is true they will fight each other. Hubby sort of gets a kick out of mixing them up when he is working on a car or something and they are near.

He says they don't like that much. I don't know if it really will kill a hill to do that though.

Still--it could be entertaining for a while.

As I said--H.A.T.E. those little guys!!! :mad: